He led the state of Indiana in rebounding as a high school senior in 2006–07 while playing for Connersville High School. Howard ranked second in the state in blocked shots as a junior.[1] Howard is regarded as the first top-100 recruit in the history of Butler.[2][3]

He earned Academic All-American selection in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and was named the 2011 Men's Basketball Academic All-America of the Year as well as the 2009 Horizon League Men's Basketball Player of the Year.[10] He was a 2009 All-American honorable mention by the Associated Press.[11] By helping Butler earn consecutive trips to the final four, Howard earned consecutive Elite 88 Awards in 2010 and 2011.[12] He was also one of ten finalists for the 2011 men's basketball Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.[13]

In 2010, he was chosen as "honorable mention" in a list of the smartest athletes in sports by Sporting News.[14]

During the 2010 Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament he earned the MVP Award.[15] Then, during the 2011 Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament he repeated as MVP and became the first person to become a four-time Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament All-Tournament selection.[16] He won the 2011 Lou Henson Award as the mid-major player of the year.[17] Howard was the 2007–8 Horizon League Newcomer of the Year.[18] He was a second team All-Horizon League selection that year and first team selection the following three seasons.[19] He was a Horizon League All-Defensive Team selection as a sophomore and a senior.[20] He holds the Horizon League records for most free throws made and attempted (both league only and all games).[21] He led the Horizon League in field goal percentage as a sophomore with a 55.0 average.[22]

In a story immediately before the 2011 Final Four, Rick Reilly noted that Howard "looks more like a geeky band-camp RA than a possible NBA first rounder", but added:

“

The Bulldogs wouldn't be anywhere near Houston without Howard. He's the designated floor diver, the insatiable rebounder, the guy who sets the kind of picks that would stop an Amtrak train.... He's the thing you love most in a college basketball player — a guy who just wants to win and doesn't care who gets the credit. A guy who hits class by day and glass by night. A scabbed-knee grinder who finishes every game with his tank on E.[32]

”

He is also known for eccentricities both on and off the court. Howard's teammate Shelvin Mack told Reilly that Howard had six pairs of new shoes in his locker, but refused to wear them, preferring to stay with what Mack described as "ratty old ones". Howard also habitually rode a rusted-out bicycle to Butler's 6:00 am practices, regardless of the weather; during one 2011 ice storm, the handlebars bent under him while he was riding, causing him to fall onto the ice. He would say about this incident, "I fixed it. Just poured some WD-40 in there and bent them back. It's a little risky to ride, I guess, but I can't see buying a new one." He also has a habit of spoonerism with people's names; for example, he routinely calls Mack "Melvin Shack".[32]